Contracts and legal fees

A signed agreement is required before a commission is

awarded. The contract is signed once plans have been revised,

technical requirements stipulated, suppliers confirmed, and the

budget has been thoroughly reviewed. Independent legal

advice is recommended and can form part of the costs of the

project. Contract payments are made in installments, usually as

a percentage of the total contract amount, and geared to

specific stages of certification and production.

Copyright

Copyright in the completed work usually belongs jointly to the

artist and to the commissioning organization or the City.

​

Development Costs

Consultants: Architects, Engineers, etc.

Engineering Certifications: Structural, Electrical, Mechanical,

etc.

Insurance: Liability, WCB, Errors & Omissions, Auto, Loss

Municipal Permits and Licenses: Business License & Work

Permits

Other

​

Permits
Permits are generally required for building on site, electrical and
water connection, and street occupancy (for installation) unless
City staff are doing the work. General contractors may already
have these permits. Permit costs (and the artist’s business
license) need to be anticipated and included in the budget—
phone the City Permits and Licenses Office (604/873-7611).
Depending on the site, other costs such as resituating traffic
signs may be incurred.

Drawings and Certifications
One to three sets of detailed drawings will be required before
the production of the final art work. If you receive a
commission, licensed engineering certifications are usually
required on drawings and plans for structural elements. In
some instances, more than one certification may be necessary if there are different components or if elements change. Costs
can range from $200-$5000. It is best to obtain quotations
from engineering firms for the initial budget. QS is a review of
the budget to determine whether cost projections are
adequate, prices are accurate, and if everything has been
considered. In some cases this can be done by the City or
contractor, but on large or complex projects an independent
Quantity Survey may be required and should be budgeted for.

​

Insurance
The artist/contractor must have public liability insurance of
$2,000,000 for all projects during installation and possibly for
up to two years. This includes liability for injury of public and
employees working on the project. The cost of this insurance
could be up to $1000/year unless you already have insurance
in place which can be upgraded to cover the project. Insurance
should be included as part of the costs of the project. In
particular circumstances, the insurance requirement may be
waived and covered by the City or contractor.
The artist is liable for the replacement cost of the art work until
it is installed, and adequate insurance should be maintained.
Please consult an insurance agent.
If you have a vehicle you are using for hauling, etc. on the
project you should have the required auto insurance.

​

WCB
As a contractor, you are required to have workers’
compensation coverage for anyone who is working for you to
fabricate or install the work. WCB will help cover wage loss
and medical expenses for anyone hurt while working on your
project. You can also obtain coverage for yourself on the
project. The WCB Employer Registration number is 604.244-
6182. (1999) You can register over the phone and you will
receive a statement that has to be filled out regarding the
wages you paid and to whom. Cost is roughly $5.80 per
$1000 paid to employees and can be included in the budget.
Licensed subcontractors may already be registered with WCB
and you will not have to cover them, but it is your
responsibility to make sure of their coverage. Confirmation of
WCB registration is required.
 

​

PST Guidelines
PST you pay out for supplies and services should be included in
the budget projections as part of the basic contract amount.
PST is not added to the contract amount as the art work is
considered to be an improvement of real property. Special PST
considerations may apply if you are importing materials from
outside the province or if you are a First Nations artist. Check
with an accountant if either of these situations apply.

​

Administration Expenses
Administrative expenses may include phone/fax, postage,
printing, studio rental (over and above your normal work
place), mileage, airfare, etc. related to the project. If submitting
from outside of the city, province, or country, increase courier
fees and budget for site visits. A business license will be
necessary and can be obtained at City Hall (call 604.873.7568).
Documentation and maintenance manual expenses
The budget should also include the cost of documenting the
completed work. The Public Art Program requires a set of slides
for reference and for non-commercial reproduction, including
placement on the City web site.
Architectural plans and as-built drawings of the final piece are
requested for the Public Art and Maintenance archive and the
cost of copying these should be considered. A Maintenance
Manual is required for all public art works and this needs to be
developed with drawings and particulars on materials,
suppliers, fabricators, etc.

Artist fee
Artist Fees may vary depending on the labour required and the
material cost. A fee of more than 20% of the budget would be
exceptional and would need to be clearly justified. As a general
rule, a contingency of 15-20% should be included in the initial
budget. The final project budget—at the level of the short
list—should include at least a 5% contingency if all the above
points have been taken into consideration
 

​

​

​